Stefano Polyzoides, et al As cities throughout the U.S. struggle with housing shortages, valuable lessons can be learned from the principles that underlie the design of the courtyard house. Whether humble or sumptuous in scale, courtyards create a sense of privacy and enhance quality of life by creating the impression of green space for their residents. Now available in its fifth printing, Courtyard Housing in Los Angeles documents the historical, technical, and cultural forces that shaped the development of this distinctive West Coast building type. The authors' in-depth research and analysis is enhanced by the inclusion of numerous plans and technical drawings. Julius Shulman's sensuous black-and-white photographs document the range of courtyard styles–from simple bungalow-style dwellings to more ornate buildings combining Italian, Spanish, and North African influences.
A passionate study of a model building type that “embodies all that is quintessentially Angeleno”; from its origins in the first decade of the century, its flowering in the twenties and early thirties to its future potential. The authors’ research and analysis are complemented by period photographs and Julius Shulman’s sensuous black-and-white images. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN 9780910413534. Paperback. $60.
